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POSTGAME 5: Powerful Play

by
Brian Smith | PhiladelphiaFlyers.com
/ Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers scored three power play goals, two of which came from Wayne Simmonds, and rode that to a 3-2 victory over the Senators. After a scoreless first period, Simmonds deflected home a shot from Jake Voracek just 1:30 into the second frame. Then with 8:46 left in the period, Sean Couturier put home a rebound on another power play to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead. Nika Zibanejad cut it to a one-goal game with just over two minutes left in the second, but Simmonds got that goal back 7:15 into the third period. The Senators got one more, a power play goal from Mike Hoffman, but Steve Mason shut things down from there on the way to a 33-save victory. Andrew Hammond stopped 33 in a losing cause.

It was the first TV timeout of the first period, which came 7:35 into the game. Prior to that, the Flyers appeared to be in a bit of a fog. Ottawa outshot the Flyers 5-1 in that time period, held a 9-4 advantage in shot attempts and outhit the Flyers 6-1. After that timeout, things seemed to return to normal in the Flyers’ world. After the faceoff following that timeout, the Senators went a full three minutes and 20 seconds before the next time they had possession of the puck in the Philadelphia zone. The Flyers outshot the Senators 9-3 the rest of the period and were more in control for the rest of the game.

1. Wayne Simmonds – Scored two goals and assisted on the third for a three-point game. It was his seventh two-goal game of the season and third three-point game. Simmonds also led the Flyers with six shots on goal and eight shot attempts, and was credited with one takeaway and one blocked shot.

2. Brayden Schenn – recorded two assists, four shot attempts, a block and a takeaway. Schenn now has seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points during the Flyers’ 13

3: Mike Hoffman – Recorded a goal and an assist while collecting six shots on goal.

The Flyers went 3-for-3 on the power play. The three goals tie a season high for a single game, and it marks just the sixth time in the last two seasons the Flyers have had a three-PPG game…Simmonds posted his 24th career game of two goals or more and seventh of the season, and his fifth since January 25... The Flyers had one shot on goal and four total attempts in the first 7:35, and then had 35 SOG and 61 attempts over the final 52:25… Claude Giroux was 13-for-18 (72 pct) on faceoffs… Andrew MacDonald accounted for five of the Flyers’ 14 blocked shots.

“Mentality and the ability to stay aggressive and stay on your toes – that’s exactly what that shift says. We kept it in the offensive zone, we kept the clock winding without a whole lot of whistles as we went down the stretch. Because of that we were able to stay on our toes and stay aggressive and that’s exactly what Belley’s line did on that shift.”

(Dave Hakstol, on the fourth line killing clock time late in the offensive zone)

“A lot of what I’m doing has to do with the guys in front. I think overall we’re playing real solid hockey and in turns makes my job a lot easier. We’re scoring goals at probably our best clip of the year too, so that also helps. We’re still in tight games, but we’re having the confidence for guys that they’re going to find the back of the net and that’s a nice thing for a goaltender to have, knowing that the guys are going to come through for you and more than anything like I said earlier it’s fun coming to the rink and expecting to play.”